Upcoming Events:

Alan Kolp's article to be featured inThe Merton Seasonal- A Quarterly Review

Alan Kolp's article, "Why Merton Matters" will be featured in The Merton Seasonal- A Quarterly Review. The 2015 Spring Merton Seasonal will be a special edition honoring the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth.

The Merton Seasonal: A Quarterly Review is a joint publication of the International Thomas Merton Society and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. The Seasonal is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The Merton Seasonal contains articles, book reviews and other information of interest to members of the Society.

Fourteenth ITMS General Meeting - June 4-7, 2015

Alan Kolp will present "Mind the Light: a Mertonian-Quaker Approach to Contemplative Living" at the 14th General Meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. This conference celebrates the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth. Click here for further information about the conference.

Recent Events:

2015 Faith & Life Lectures - February 11-12, 2015

The 2015 Faith & Life Lectures have concluded. Featuring Sr. Kathleen Deignan, attendees enjoyed listening to her discussions about Thomas Merton and Thomas Berry: Pathfinders to an Ecological Age. In addition, the following Religion Alumni participated in a panel discussion with Kathleen Deignan, Alan Kolp, Ellen Posman and Bob Fowler to discuss "In Dialogue with Thomas Berry and Thomas Merton: A Rountable Conversation"

The Cleveland Ecumenical Institute for Religious Studies - January 22- February 12, 2015

Alan Kolp completed teaching a four-part series entitled: "Contemplative Living". The class was conducted at John Knox Presbyterian Church in North Olmsted. The series focused on Thomas Merton who described the contemplative as someone who is fully awake. The contemplative is fully alive and living from the Source of Life known in our deepest self. Contemplative living has more to do with experience than doctrine. This class explored some of the salient resources that help define and form contemplative living. Special attention was given to early Christian monasticism. The course met its goal which was: to gain knowledge about contemplative living and to deepen the practice of living contemplatively.

Leadership Team Retreat - November 17 & 18, 2014

Alan Kolp presented at a 2-day Leadership event at Baldwin Wallace University's Center for Innovation & Growth. He will discuss various key topics including the following virtues: Virtue as “Common Language”, Trust, Justice, & Compassion.

Hudson Library and Historical Society - November 10, 2014

Alan Kolp presented to a group of entrepreneurs, small business owners and prospective business owners. The title of the presentation was Igniting Innovation with Integrity.

Alan's interview with Channel 5 News- October 14, 2014

Alan Kolp was recently featured on Channel 5 news to share his insights about the recent document published by the Roman Catholic Bishops in Rome that calls for tolerance and understanding. Alan Kolp says he doesn't believe this assembly will change any of the church's core values, but rather the way they are implemented.

"How do we apply that in a way that is understanding of people's real lives, a way that has sensitivity to it? That's why you have words such as listening discerning. How can the church, I would say take seriously the world in which it finds itself in the 21st century," said Kolp.

Kolp adds the milder approach is the product of Pope Francis' background as a pastor, saying the Pope is asking the church to focus attention on the many different individuals who make up the Catholic Church.. A clip from the interview can be found here:

Alan Kolp participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with BW President Bob Helmer. As part of BW's Weekend of Welcome, students had the honor of pouring the buckets of ice water to help spread ALS Awareness. Click here for photos and more details.

2014 Baldwin Wallace Nursing Pinning Ceremony- August 23, 2014

Alan Kolp participated in the first ever Nursing Pinning Ceremony. The first graduates of Baldwin Wallace University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (ABSN) program were "pinned" as part of a distinctive celebration of completion. The pinning ceremony at the Berea United Methodist Church marked the culmination of an intense, one-year program that features a concept-based curriculum for Bachelor’s Degree holders seeking a second degree in nursing. Photos from the event can be found here.

2014 ESR Leadership Conference at Earlham School of Religion - August 15-17, 2014

Alan Kolp served as a Keynote Speaker at the 2014 ESR Leadership Conference. The theme was "Leading as Servants in the Manner of Friends."

Alan specifically addressed Servant Leadership: Spirituality Charged Change Agent. The calling of the effective twenty-first century leader is to be a change agent. Status quo and “business as usual” modes of leadership signal the death knell for any institution---profit or non-profit. Effective leaders generally will be innovative leaders. Servant-leadership, as a particular form of leadership, resonates with Quaker spirit, especially as Robert Greenleaf experienced and expressed it. The servant-leader is a spiritually charged change agent. As Quakers understand it, a servant-leader is a spiritual leader. Hence, leader is given a charism, along with the charge to lead change. As a spiritually charged change agent, the servant-leader is a transformational leader.

As part of the "Summer Sabbath: In the Moment" program at the Church, Alan Kolp spoke about Contemplative Living: Its Appeal and Application. Life was meant to be lived in Paradise, but quickly humans found themselves living east of Eden. Too often in this land east of Eden, we find ourselves coping with busyness or boredom. Analternative way is to live contemplatively. In a two-part series, contemplative living was presented in such a way that everyone could see its appeal and learned how to apply it to their own lives. It may not take us back to Paradise, but it is as close as we can come.

Merton Retreat - May 23-26, 2014

Alan Kolp attended a Retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani entitled: "Living Together with Wisdom: Merton’s Call to Transform Our Hearts and Lives". Attendees had an opportunity for prayer and reflection and broadened insights and experiences on Merton. The conference theme was drawn from a letter to Abdul Aziz in which Merton spoke of "the hour of dawn when the world is silent and the new light is most pure," as "symbolizing the dawning of divine light in the stillness of our hearts." At that virgin point of the new day, Merton writes in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, the dawn deacon cries “wisdom” but “we do not attend.”

Baldwin Wallace University, April 28, 2014

Alan Kolp was presented with an Excellence in Teaching Award at the 2014 Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony.

This award was presented to a full or part-time faculty member who encourages and challenges student-athletes in the classroom and also supports their athletic endeavors.

The Merton Seasonal recently published an article that Alan Kolp wrote based on his presentation at The Thirteenth General Meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society. The article entitled: "From Cloister to Classroom: Thomas Merton and Today's College Student" can be found in the Spring 2014 edition of the Quarterly Review.

The Merton Seasonal: A Quarterly Review is a joint publication of the International Thomas Merton Society and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. The Seasonal is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The Merton Seasonal contains articles, book reviews and other information of interest to members of the Society.

Ursuline College - Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 7:30 pm

Alan Kolp presented "Merton's Spirituality: Walking Around Shining Like the Sun" at Ursuline College. He was joined by BW Students Matthew Gesicki and Johanna Hoffman who also participated in the presentation.

This event was held at the Ursuline Educational Center (Sisters' Motherhouse), 2600 Lander Rd. in Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124.

Sister Donna Kristoff shared her experience:
"The students I have met from Professor Dr. Alan Kolp's course, "The Spirituality of Thomas Merton" demonstrate, not only a keen grasp of Thomas Merton's life and message, but a high level of scholarly insight evidenced by in-depth research papers. Forming close bonds of understanding through class interaction, students are prepared for their culminating trip to Merton's Abbey in Kentucky. This immersion into Merton's milieu allows them to go deeper and to personally experience the heart of Merton's message: contemplation, community and compassion. Each student is enthusiastic in articulating the unique and enduring impact this class has had on their academic studies and on their lives."

Johanna Hoffman reflected on the evening:
It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to visit with the International Thomas Merton Society at their meeting at Ursuline College. It was outstanding to share in the words and spirit of Thomas Merton and to have the opportunity to experience a group of people who are truly "walking around and shining like the sun." How very encouraging to be completely overwhelmed with love!Johanna Hoffman '14

2014 Faith & Life Lectures

The 2014 Faith & Life Lectures have concluded. Featuring Dr. Paul Knitter, attendees enjoyed listening to his discussions about being Faithful in a Religiously Complex World. In addition, the following Religion Majors/Minors participated in a panel discussion with Paul Knitter, Alan Kolp and Ellen Posman to discuss "The Promise and Perils of Religious Pluralism."

Alan Kolp was asked to write an extended book review of a new book on Thomas Merton & Taoism (Chinese religion/philosophy). The review was published in the Winter 2013 edition of The Merton Seasonal: A Quarterly Review. The Merton Seasonal is a joint publication of the International Thomas Merton Society and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. The publication contains articles, book reviews and other information of interest to members of the Society. Click here for further information.

The Cleveland Ecumenical Institute for Religious Studies - January 22- February 26, 2014

Alan Kolp recently completed teaching a four part series entitled: "The Spirit of Thomas Merton: From Seeker to Sanctity". The class ran from 7-9 pm every Wednesday starting on January 22, and ended on February 26, 2014 at Lakewood United Methodist Church. The series focused on Thomas Merton and his life's journey which serves as a challenge and offers courage. His journey from being a spiritual seeker through his spiritual quest to becoming a saint, reveals multiple themes, particular problems, and surprising serendipities. The spirit of Merton provides a template for an examination of our own journey to sanctity.